Jonathan Ralph STEINHART

1947 - 2021

Jonathan Ralph Steinhart (age 74) passed away on August 7, 2021 while hiking near Moscow, ID. Jonathan was born the only child of Ralph and Helen Steinhart on June 12, 1947. Following graduation from the Pingry School of Elizabeth, NJ in 1965, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Amherst College. Following college, he completed an MAT at Harvard University, obtained his medical degree from Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, and an MPH from the University of Washington.

Trained as both a family physician and obstetrician/gynecologist, he joined the United States Public Health Service in 1980, as a commissioned officer and retired with the rank Captain in 2009. His longest term of duty was in Shiprock, New Mexico where he lived and worked on the Navajo reservation for over twenty years, having served for a time as chief of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After retiring from the USPH, he moved to Spokane where he worked as an urgent care physician, most recently with Concentra.

He married Ashley Shultz, PhD, of Spokane, in Durango Colorado in 2002.

Always active, he set records in track and field for both his high school and college teams. He loved the outdoors and hiked, skied, camped, and biked in the beautiful terrain of the South and Northwest. An Eagle Scout himself, he was an active leader for Troop 22 in Spokane. He enjoyed many outdoor activities with his Eagle Scout sons and other Boy Scouts.

He enjoyed musical activities, particularly singing, and he sang locally with Pages of Harmony, a barbershop chorus, Hubberstan Nonesuch, a madrigal performing group, and the choir of St. John's Cathedral. He was active in Episcopal Church for most of his adult life and he was a member of St. John's Cathedral. He was also a member for the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis, a lay Episcopal Franciscan order with a local fellowship in Spokane.

Both his parents and Dr. Steinhart had a long relationship with a mission community in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Many years ago he and his family developed a supportive relationship with a young Haitian boy, Wilex Roger, who now teaches at the Union School in Port Au Prince.

He is survived by his sons Jordan and Andrew, and cousins Barbara Chester, Jim Steinhart, and Jack Pansegrau.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 11:00 – 1:30 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 4:00 pm at St. John's Cathedral (masks required).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, P.O. Box 720, Farmington, NM 87499 or Cathedral Music Ministry at St. John's Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Avenue, Spokane WA 99202.